Filler cap for oil tanks



Aug. 7, 1923.

W. H. THOMPSON FILLER CAP FOR OILAIANKS Filed Sept. 2. 1920 Patented Aug, 7, 11923 WILLIAM 1r; rnorrrsoiv, or rvrrrviroien, corionnno.

FILLER CA1? FUR OIL TANKS.

Application filed September 2, 1920. Serial No. 407,795.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Humor H. THOMPSON,

citizen of the United States, and resident oi. Minturn, in the county ol liiagle and State or Colorado, have invented certain new and useful lmproven'ients in Filler Caps for t. ii of wh1ch the tollowing. 1s a speci- Tanks, i'ication.

This invention relates to tanksfor fuel oils and particularly tanks for gasoline used in connection with internal combustion engines and motors and as especially applied to automobiles, but it may be used tlor any purpose where itis desiredto retain oil or other liquid substance in a reservoir or tank under compression, or Without. pressure. The object of the invention is primarily to make it possible to utilize oil to the ifull capacity of a tank for generating power by a motor or engine which uses oil for. fuel, and a further object is to provide means for admitting a suilicient degree of air to the tank to cause a free How of the oil as re quired tor combustion when there is a quantity of oil in the tank. Further-objects are to provide a device of the kind simple and inexpensive oi? construction and which may apply to any tank of the types ordinarily in use, and a further object is to provide a device of the kind which may be used in conjunction with an air pump of the type that is generally used for inflating pneun'iatic tires oi automobiles oi motor cyles.

reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, 111 which Figure l is a vertical.

sectional view or the device as applied to a I gasoline tank, the parts thereof being shown in the position they assume when air is retained in the tank under pressure. The rub-- ber tube for filling the tank by means ot the air pump is shown in position for use in dotted lines. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the filler cap alone showing the parts in the position they assume when the tank has a sullicient quantity of oil therein not to require any compression, or at any time when it is desired to admit air thereto. not under pressure, or to permitair to escape from the tank. Figure 3 is an enlarged dctail sectional view showing more clearly the construction of certain parts of the device. In the several views 01 the drawings similar reference numerals refer to similar parts.

The numeral 10 indicates the tank and 11 With these and others objects in view the threaded flange forming a seat for the tiller cap 12 which has the threaded flange l3 thereon, which is threaded into the seat 11 oi? the tank, and also the flange 13 which engages the edge of the seat 11 forming a "ight seal for the cap. Packing means may be provided in the joint as let if desired. A tubular member 15 is disposed in a vertical position cent ally through the cap and is enclosed at the lower end portion thereot by a plug 16 having a passage 17 thereto. A helical spring 18 is retained in the tubular member by the plug it; and a ball 19 is superposed upon the upper portion. of the spring. A concave valve seat 20 is disposed in the tubular member substantially centrally thereof, above the ball 19, and is adapted to closely fit the surface of the ball which together term meeting parts of a ball and socket valve. The ball is normally held by a helical spring in. close contact with the concave valve seat as shown in Figure 1. A.

central opening is provided through the valve seat :20, and a tubular conduit for air, 2]., is vertically disposed therethrough. A

flange or washer is disposed around the conduit 2i and is adapted to rest upon the upper age of the valve seat 20 when the conduit is lowered. A bridge is disposeiil over the washer 22 and rests upon the upper surface oi. the valve seat :20 and limits the upward movement of the conduit 21 and the washer it. lip or liange is provided on the upper end of the conduit 21 which is oi a size suitable to pass through the opening 2 1i oi the bridge 23 for convenience in assembling the parts. l'Vhen there is air inthe tank under pressure the helical spring 18 forces the valve ball 19 into its seat in the concave valve member 20 and prevents the escape of any air whatever, but when it is desired to force air into'the tank the air tube indicated by dotted lines is applied and the air is pumped through it tlirough the tubular member of the tiller cap into the tank. The air passes through the conduit 2i through the passage 21 therethrough and forces the ball l9 downwardly from its seat' The conduit 21 may then descend so that the plate 22 rests upon the upper surface of the concave valve seat- 20. The air passing tlicrethrough then may escape through openings 2}." and thence into the tank around the bal 19 through the plug 16 and passage 1*! therethrough. ll hen the pressure from the air pump is removed the ball 19 is forced upwardly by the spring 18 and the valve is closed preventing the escape of the compressed. air. The result of the air pressure upon the fuel is as follows;

When the fuel oil is low in the tanl; the flow thereof to the carburetor and combustion chamber of the motor is uncertain if there be any flow whatever, but when air under suflicient pressure fills the tank the fuel is forced to pass through any means of egress or ports provided from the tank, so that while thereremains any fuel in. the. tank a reliable flow thereof to the combustion chamber of the motor is certain.

When the tank is well supplied With. oil; there is not ordinarily any necessity for this pressureto insure a flow thereof to the motor, and in such casethefiow is more satis-. factory if a supply ofairis afforded. This is provided in the manner described as fol+ lows: H

Referring toFigure 2 of the drawing the cap 26 is shown applied to the upper end of: the tubular. member 15 of the filler. cap. Packing is provided in the capt26 asQT, whit-h maybe elastic inaterialor more solid; substance. The cap is preferably threaded on to the tubular member 15 of the filler cap. Inthe top of the cap26is provided; an opening and, a tubular member 28 is seated therein which extends inwardly through the cap 26 and on the inward end the tubular member is enlarged as. at 29., forming a flaring se at to receive the lip orv flange 24 of the tubular conduit 21 before described. When the cap 26 isthrcaded on.

to the upper end of the tubular member 15 ofthe filler. cap the seat 29 of, thetubular member engages the lip 2 10f the tubular conduit 21 and forces it downwardly. until.

the flange or washer 22 rests upon the upper surface of the concavevalve seat 20, thusforcing the valve ball 19 downwardly compressing the spring 18 and permittingthe air from the tanlrto flow upwardlythrough the passage 17 of the plug 16;around the ball 19 through; the tubular conduitmember 21 andthe tubular member 28 of the cap,26 to the openair. As the liquidfu'el in the,

tank is lowered the air may be admitted to fill the space therein not occupied by the fuel.

While I have described the form of my invention shown in the drawings, I do not wish to limit myself thereto, but reserve the right to depart therefrom within the reasonable scope and spirit of my invention. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure. by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a. tank closure the combination of an air. valve comprising a cylindrical housing, a normally spring closed valve member within. said housing, a reciprocating tubular air passage closed by said valve member when same is seated, said air passage having lateral ports which are opened when said valve is unseated, and means for adjustably operating saidv air passage.

2. In a tank closure the combination of an airvalve comprising a. cylindrical housing, a.normally spring-closed valve member within saidhousing, a reciprocating tubular air passage closedby said valve when same is seated, said air passage having lateral ports which are opened when said valve is unseatcd,and-a screw cap on said housing, said cap havingv a tubular passage which communicates with said reciprocating passage, whereby said reciprocating passage may be adjusted by turning the cap.

8. In a tank closure the combination of an air valve comprising atubular housing containing a spring-closed spherical valve member, means for opening said valve, whereby air may. be admitted therethrough, said means consistingof-areciprocating air passage, the movement of saidreciprocating passage opening said valve member, against the tension of its spring andmeans for adjusting said air passage in various positions,

where the supply of'air may be regulated. Signed at Leadville, in the county of Lake and State of Colorado, this 19th day of. July, A. D: 1920.

WILLIAM H: THOMPSON. 

